Week 14 - Run in Phoenixville, Hike in Maryland

This was one of those weeks that I sat back in “maintenance mode” due to special events for the week. On Thursday I got together with a couple of the guys in Maryland for a hike at Gunpowder Falls State Park in Sweet Air, MD. On Saturday my wife and I ran the Citizen’s Advocacy run in Phoenixville. Each event required that I not embarrass myself, so I kept the cardio light for the week in order to be fresh for them.


Week 14: current weight 165, +5 lbs. from Week 1

Monday: Chest and shoulders weights
Tuesday: Back and arms weights
Wednesday: Off
Thursday: Hike in Maryland, 6 miles, 40 lbs. pack
Friday: Off
Saturday: 10k run in Phoenixville, 56:20 time
Sunday: Off (sick)

The hike on Thursday was great. The Boston member of our team, Rich, was down in the Maryland area for a conference for the week and he had Thursday available. So I packed my stuff and headed down to Brian’s house (in northern Maryland) for the afternoon. The trail was great, mostly fast paced with lots and lots of hills. It was a short hike, but the work out was very good and well worth going down for. Plus it was fun hanging out with the guys for the afternoon.

On Saturday morning, my wife and I headed down to Phoenixville for the Citizen’s Advocacy run. I was happy with my 56:20 time, considering I’ve done zero speed training work. I did my typical “start too fast and pay for it later” deal that I always do with organized runs, even though I tell myself for the hour beforehand not to do that. The hills going over the ridgeline that runs north of town (twice) tore me up pretty hard, but my cardio was recovering very quickly and I was able to take full advantage of the downhills immediately after. I do enjoy these kinds of runs, and I leave open the possibility of training specifically for them in the future…but right now the training schedule for the big hike just doesn’t allow for the time for it, and the two training styles while not mutually exclusive aren’t very compatible.

Now I’m just hoping to kick this cold that hit on Sunday quickly so I can get a solid training week for Week 15.